A57980:1710
A survey of the spiritual antichrist opening the secrets of familism and antinomianism in…A survey of the spirituall antichrist opening the secrets of familisme and antinomianisme in…
A survey of the spiritual antichrist opening the secrets of familism and antinomianism in the antichristian doctrine of John Saltmarsh and Will. Del, the present preachers of the army now in England, and of Robert Town, by Samuel Rutherfurd ...A survey of the spirituall antichrist opening the secrets of familisme and antinomianisme in the antichristian doctrine of John Saltmarsh and Will. Del, the present preachers of the army now in England, and of Robert Town, by Samuel Rutherfurd ...
London: printed by J.D. & R.I. for Andrew Crooke, 1648
Part 2 › Chapter 66: Antinomians errors touching the covenant of grace.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
2. We teach that faith in Christ is both a condition of grace on our part, but not Antecedent and preparatory to the Covenant, and also a grace promised, when the new heart is articled to us; so that Christ bringeth into the covenant himself, his righteousness, his free grace, and the condition of Faith that receives him; just as if the heir of a King should offer to marry a Maid of low birth, upon condition she wear about her neck on the Marriage day, a gold chain, having in it a rich Diamond of the Crown, and withal should oblige himself, under his hand and seal, in the Marriage-contract, both to bestow this chain on her freely, and to infuse a Spirit of grace and love, to close in her heart with such a lover, and to yield consent to the match, and to adorn her self with this chain. Just so doth the Prince of life here, and its a vain thing to parallel this covenant of grace with other covenants.
2. We teach that faith in Christ is both a condition of grace on our part, but not Antecedent and preparatory to the Covenant, and also a grace promised, when the new heart is articled to us; so that Christ bringeth into the covenant himselfe, his righteousnesse, his free grace, and the condition of Faith that receives him; just as if the heire of a King should offer to marry a Maid of low birth, upon condition she weare about her necke on the Marriage day, a gold chaine, having in it a rich Diamond of the Crowne, and withall should oblige himselfe, under his hand and seale, in the Marriage-contract, both to bestow this chaine on her freely, and to infuse a Spirit of grace and love, to close in her heart with such a lover, and to yeeld consent to the match, and to adorne her selfe with this chaine. Just so doth the Prince of life here, and its a vaine thing to parallel this covenant of grace with other covenants.
3. Nor did ever any man before Saltmarsh dream, that Law-obedience was an Antecedent condition of the Covenant of works, with Adam, 1nor were Adam and Eve in their state of sinless innocency, The people of God, before God was first their God; for then never man, Adam, nor any other, were under the Law, or Covenant of works, till first they absolved, and kept to the end, a course of perfect obedience. Yea, so there was never on earth, such a thing as a covenant of works, except made with Christ, nor can we say, that God made a Covenant of works with Adam, for his perfect obedience; yet sure, perfect obedience was a condition of the Covenant of works.